Re: Big
smoke derivation

: : : Does
anyone know the derivation of "The Big Smoke?" Did it ever refer to just one city?

Toronto,
Canada, although no more polluting than any city, is often referred to as The
Big Smoke by us good folk of the hinterland, just as New Orleans is the Big Easy
or New York the Big Apple.
I wonder how many more cities lay claim to that
monicker?
The only basis I can see for Toronto being called this is perhaps
the sight of smoking chimneys seen across the water when travel by water (along
lake Ontario) was the fastest way to get around way back when.
C.